Wrench



Feb. 4, 1930. l A E .ERlCKSQN 1,745,787

WRENCH Filed Sept. '7, 1929 HIS ATTORNEYS --UN1'TED,STATES' .type- Patented Feb. 4, i930 PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR E. ERrcKsoN, or BROOKLYN, New YORK WRENCH Application led September` 7, 1929. Serial No. 390,920.

This invention relates to wrenches and has for its object the provision ofan improved wrench.y More particularly, the invention aims/.to provide an improved adjustable wrench-of the open fend or sliding side Vjaw The heretofore customary wrenches of the adjustable sliding side jaw type vsacrifice some vital feature'such as strength, rigidity,`

durability or compactness in 'order' to attaink the v'adjust-able feature. f Most commonly in orderto obtain an easily adjustable feature these wrenches sacrifice strength and rigidity.fr r 'i s Frequently adjustable wrenches of this type vdo not provide any method of locking yzo the' adjustable member in fixed relation to the body of thewrench.v The force of gravity or frictional resistance is customarily relied upon to hold the aws in kfixed relation. This type of wrench whenv beingy used manually y frequently falls out of adjustment and must be reset usually at inopportune times. Due to the adjustable feature many wrenches also springY slightly under stress and as a consequence the aws do not fit snugly against the flat sides ofthe objectfbeingturned,l thus -kcausin'g a greater than normalstrain on the jaws and an insecure feel whenthe jaws-'are first contacted with the object t vbe turned.

The present invention: contemplates the provision of an improved. adjustable wrench y Vwhich has substantially all thestrength, ri-

'gidity, diuability'` andcompactness yof the customary open end'or set wrench.l This re- 4sult isobtained by forming the body or handle of the wrench and. one jaw of an integral piece vof metal, to Yvv'it,'of a forged ypiece of steel. As a part of the'handle and fixed jaw and extending at va right angle thereto there is provided an angular Vshoulder which acts f as a brace to absorb lmost of the stress encountered in use.

The movable or adjustable jaw has an anl Vguiar shoulder which registers with the anguiar shoulder on the handle. The adjustablefj aw is also provided witha member extending along the handle of the wrench in a countersunk portion thereof. This member is. provided with projecting vlugs adapted to register with depressions in the bottom of the countersunk portion of the handle of the wrench. j

The yadjustment of the wrench is accomplished by raising the adjustable jaw bodily so that the lug projections in the adjustable member clear the depressions on the body of the wrench and again lowering the adjustable jaw into registering relation with different depressions. Thus the space between the jaws of the wrench is changed and itis possible to place theV adjustable jaw in a plurality of fixed positions.

lThe invention willbe better understood by consideration of the following description in yconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

' Figure 1 is a top plan, partially in section, of the wrench assembly;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the assembly;

l Fig. 3 is a plan of the adjustable jaw; and

y Figsut and 5 are details of special features.

A body'or handle 10 of the Wrench is provided with a fixed jaw 11. Extending at right angles to the face of the fixed jaw 11 is a shoulder 12 against which bears a corresponding shoulder 13 of an adjustable jaw 14. The main operating stressof thewrench is transmitted through these shoulders so that in actual operation there is little likelihood of the adjustable jaw springing out of position.

The adjustable jaw 14 is provided with a member 15 extending along the shank of the wrench. Projecting from the bottom of the member 15 of the adjustable jaw 14 are lug projections 16 which register with depressions 17 in a countersunk portion on the body or handle 10 of the wrench.y During the operation of the wrench a portion of the stresses are transmitted from the adjustable jaw 14 to the body of the wrench by means of the registering depressions 17 and the lug projections 16. The adjustment of the jaws of the wrench for different openings is accomplished by raising the adjustable jaw 14 so that the lug projections 16 carried thereby are not in registered relation with the depressions 17 on the handle of the wrench. The adjustable aw is then moved into the desired position and again seated so that the depressions 17 and lugs 16 are in registered relation.

Transversely across the top ofthe member 15 of the adjustable jaw are two countersunk grooves 18 with tapered sides. These grooves register with two corresponding ridgesr19 on the lower portion of a movable cover 23. The

cover or plate 23 is held in registered relation with the member 15 of the adjustable jaw 14 by means of a screw clamp device,

` Extending across'the countersunk portion of the wrench and raised slightly above the surface thereof, is a metal strap 21. A threaded hole 2O in the center of the strap 21 is adapted to engage a screw 22. The lower extremity of screw 22 registers with a depression 24 in the center of the upper side of the cover or plate 23. Y

The sides of the plate 23 are bevelled.

These bevelled sides of the plate23'register when seated with a corresponding bevel 25 provided on the rim of the countersunlr kdepression' in the handle of the wrench and with a bevelled shoulder 26 provided on the upper side of the adjustable jaw 14. f

f `When the screw 22 is screwed into registering relation with the plate 23, plate 23 performs a plurality of functions. Primarily, this plate holdsthe adjustable jaw in fixed registered relation with the body or 'handle of the wrench by means of the lug projections 16 on the adjustable jaw and the depressions 17 in the bottom of the countersunlr portion of the handle. Aside'from this, the forward extending bevelled edge of the plate 23 bears against the bevelled shoulder 26 ofthe adj ustable jaw. By means of this action, a portion of the operating stresses are transmitted from the adjustable jaw to the body ofthe wrench and the adjustable jaw is thus held firmly against any sidewise thrust which might be encountered should the wrench tilt during a turning operation.

The bevelled sidesof the plate 23 also as,` sure the proper seating of the plate23 so that it will be always in registered relation with the adjustable jaw 14. The bevelled sides of the plate also provide a means of maintaining the plate in a plane parallel to the axes of the wrench handle, even when the adjustable jaw is at one extremity of its adjustable position. n

I have found it advantageous in the practice of the invention to counter-sink portions inthe body of thewrench so that the adjustable jaw lits intothis countersunk portion. When the adjustable jaw is in operating position and soclamped there are. no projecting edges above the body of the wrench except the clamping screw 22 and its supporting strap 21. f

There is substantially no sacrifice of strength when the adjustable jaw is held in position in this manner for the adj ustable jaw has sulicientpbearing surfaces against the body of the wrench, such, for example, as the shoulders 12 and 13 which are in registering relation as well as the lugs 16 and depressions `stresses of operation are transmitted from the adjustable jaw to the body of the wrench at many different points, avoiding any un-A due strain on the bearing portions of the wrench.

y17. Aside from these features which providek strength and rigidity to the adjustable jaw, Y one side of the member 15 of the adjustable SOY The bevelledy shoulder' 26ibearing againstk y the cover or plate 23 also serves to transmit a certain portion of the stresses 0f operation to the handle of the Wren-ch. This shoulder f also assures the adjustable jaw being held ina j rigid position during operation.

The clamping vof the adjustable aw in po-` i Y sition substantially inhibits the possibility of play developing so that the adjustable jaw il does not spring out of position and as a conf sequence an adjustable open end wrench is provided with all the features of rigidity, strength and durability of the customary .set open end wrench.v

A single adjustable, openi end Wrench of this type fulfills all the operations and usesof a setyof four doubleV ended set open end wrenches.4r Aside from this the present wrench is no more' cumbersome or heavy than the customary set wrench, for due to thel countersunk features of the adjustablejaw it is not necessary to use any more metal in the wrench than is customary in the usual type of set wrench.

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a handle havingV les a ii'xed jaw, an adjustable jaw, a counter Y sunk-depression adjacent one end of the handle having therein pairs oflug depressionsV ""1" adaptablek to register with pairs of lug projections on a supporting member of the said adjustable jaw, and a cover adapted to hold the said adjustable jaw in fixed registered relation with the said handle, bevelled sides on the said cover adapted to automatically seat the cover in registered relation with the liandle'of the wrench and the adjustable jaw.

2. A wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw, an adjustable jaw, lug depressions 13' in the handle adapted to register with lug projections on a supporting member of the.

lll-5 adjustable jaw and a tapered shoulder on the said adjustable jaw adapted to register with a tapered s ide of a clamping coverwhereby sidethrusts are transmitted from the said adjustable -jaw to the body of the wrench.

3. A wrench comprising a handle having a ixed'jaw, an adjustable jaw, lug depressions in the said `handle adapted to register s with lug projections on a'supporting memable jaw is kept in alignment when not clamped in registering position.

4. A wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw, an adjustable jaw, lug depressions in the handle adapted to register with lug projections on a supporting member of ythe adjustable jaw and a tapered shoulder' on lthe said adjustable jaw adapted to register with a tapered side of a clamping cover whereby side thrusts are transmitted from the adjustable jaw to the body of the wrench, grooves on the said adjustable jaw registering with ridges on a clamping cover whereby working stresses are transmitted from the adjustable jaw to the body of the wrench and whereby the adjustable jaw is kept in alignment when not clamped in registering position, and a square shoulder on the said adj ustable jaw registering with a corresponding square shoulder on the handle of the wrench whereby direct working stresses are transmity rted from the adjustable jaw to the body of the wrench.

l5.V An open-ended wrench comprising a handle portion having at least one end thereof enlarged, one side of the enlarged end being formed into a gripping portion, said handle having a longitudinal countersunk recess extending inwardly from the enlarged end, the outer face of the side of the enlarged end remote from the gripping portion having a countersunk recess extending substantially normal to and connecting with the countersunk recess-of the handle portion, a substantially L-shaped adjustable jaw slidably mounted in said recesses and having its gripping portion engaging the inner wall defining the recess inthe outer face of the enlarged vend, whereby working stress is transmitted r directly fromy the gripping portion to the handle, one leg of the L-shape therefore overj lying the main handle portion and having means for directly interlocking therewith, and means adapted-to positively hold the adjustable j aw in fixed relation to said handle.

6. An open-ended lwrench comprising a handle portion having at least one endthereyof enlarged, one side of the enlarged end Vbeing formed into a gripping portion, said' handle having a longitudinal countersunk recess extending inwardly from the enlarged end, the outer face of the side of the enlarged end remote from the gripping portion hav- 'ing a countersunk recess extending substantially normal to and connecting with the counl tersunk recess of the handle portion, a substantially L-shaped adjustable jaw slidably mounted in said recesses and having its gripl# Vping portion engaging the inner wall delindepressions and projections on said sliding jaw and handle for determining the various positions of adjustment of the adjustable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, and meansfor maintaining the projections in depressions whereby va set adjustment may be maintained.

7. An open-ended wrench comprising a handle portion having at least one end thereof enlarged, one side of the enlarged end being formed into a gripping portion, said handle having a longitudinal countersunk recess extending inwardly from the lenlarged end, the'outer face of the side of the `enlarged end remote from the gripping portion having accuntersunk recess extending substantially normal to' and connecting with the countersunk recess of the handle portion, a substantially L-shaped adjustable jaw slidably mounted in said recesses and having its gripping portion engaging the inner wall defining the recess in the outer face of the enlarged end, whereby working stress is transmitted directly from the gripping portion to the handle, one leg of the L-shape therefore overlying the main handle portion, co-

' 8. Ank open-ended wrenchy comprising a' handle portion, a fixed jaw integral with said handle portion, the end of the handle portion adjacent the jaw having a substantially L- shaped countersunk recess, a substantially L- shaped adjustable jaw slidably mounted in said countersunk recess, the outer portion of said jaw being the gripping portion, said adjustable jaw having a face of its gripping portion substantially normal to the gripping face thereof which slidably engages a face of the wall defining the l.-shaped recess in the handle portion to transmit working stress directly from the gripping portion of the adjustable jaw to the handle portion, one leg of the L-shape therefore overlying the main handle portion and having means for directly interlocking therewith, and means adapted to positively hold the adjustable jaw in fixed relation to said handle.

9. An open-ended wrench comprising a y handle portion, a fixed jaw integral with said handle portion, the endv of the handle porsaid jaw being the gripping portion, said adi justable jaw havingsa face of its gripping portion substantially normal to the gripping face thereof which slidably engages a face of the wall defining the L-shaped recess in the handle portion to. transmit working stress directly from the gripping portion of the adjustable jaw to the handle portion, one leg of the L-shape therefore overlying the main handle portion, cooperating depressions and projections on said sliding jaw and handle for determining the various positions of adjustment of the adjustable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw,rand means maintaining the Y projectionsin depressions whereby a set ad- 15- justment may be maintained.

10; An open-ended wrench comprising a handle portion, a fixed jaw integral with said handle portion, the end of the handle portion adjacent ythe jaw having a substantially L-sh'aped countersunk recess, a substantially L-shaped adjustable jaw slidably mounted in said countersunk recess, the outer portion of said jaw being ,the gripping portion, said adjustable jaw having a face of its gripping portion substantially normal to the gripping' face thereof whichslidably engages a face of the wall dening the L-shaped recess in the handle portion to transmit working stress directlyfrom the gripping portion of the adjustablev jaw to the handle portion, one leg of the L-shape therefore overlying the main handleportion, cooperating depressions and projections on saidsliding jaw and handle for determining the various positions of adjustment of the adjustable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, and a cover maintaining the projections in depressions whereby aset adjustment may be maintained.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR E. ERICKSON. 

